บท 137: A Prisoner's Prayer (2)

Seated comfortably at a marble table under the shade of a gazebo, Mikael's attention was drawn to the tea set clinking softly as it was being arranged before him on the table.

The gazebo stood in the yard of his family's mansion. It was surrounded by recently clipped hedges, giving off the scent of grass that had just been trimmed.

The chirping of birds filled the air. One particular bird, a pale brown cardinal, settled itself upon a nearby tree. It sang, chipped a few melodies, and then fluttered away into the clear sky.

Today was a great day. The morning sun cast a golden glow under its reign, and the sky presented a canvas of untarnished blue.

As Mikael gazed upon his porcelain cup, he was enveloped by an undefining peace over him. He observed the tea being poured into his porcelain cup; the warm liquid swirling upwards.

His mind was empty, captivated by the hypnotic swirling motion of the tea as it filled the cup nearly to the brim.